Kids & Teen Activities: November 16 to 22, 2026

Looking for kids activities in Merced this week? November 16 to 22, 2026 brings seven verified picks for kids and teens across Merced County: free Tiny Tales storytimes at the Merced, Atwater, and Livingston libraries, a free storytime at the Mariposa County Library, free kids and teen programs at Merced Main, the Boys & Girls Club after-school program, the Merced Turkey Trot on Saturday, November 21, museum and zoo outings, and free early-literacy programs for babies and toddlers in Atwater. Every pick is real, verified against an official program page, and open to everyone.

This is the week before Thanksgiving, and the calendar leans on the county's dependable weekly programs, with one big weekend highlight: the Merced Turkey Trot at Lake Yosemite on Saturday morning. All seven picks below list their organizer, age range, date, time, and cost as published. Dates and times were confirmed this week; it is always worth a quick check of the linked official page before you head out, since library and museum hours can change.

Free Kids Activities in Merced, Atwater, and Livingston This Week

Three Merced County Library branches run free Tiny Tales storytimes this week, each on its own day and time. All are open to families, free to attend, and geared to children ages 3 to 6 with a caregiver, with no registration mentioned on the official calendars.

Tiny Tales @ Merced Main Library, Friday November 20

The Merced County Library calendar lists Tiny Tales at the Merced Main Library (2100 O Street, Gracey Room) on Fridays from 10:30 to 11:30 AM, with story time from 10:30 to 11:00 and a craft from 11:00 to 11:30. The program is for children ages 3 to 6 with a caregiver, and it is free. Friday, November 20 is a regular date on that weekly schedule.

Tiny Tales @ Atwater Library, Wednesday November 18

The Atwater branch of the Merced County Library (1600 Third Street) holds Tiny Tales on Wednesdays at 10:30 AM, a storytime with picture books, fingerplays, and music for ages 3 to 6. Wednesday, November 18 is the regular date this week, and the program is free. The Merced County Library Programs page describes the program and its age range for families in Atwater.

Tiny Tales @ Livingston Library, Thursday November 19

In Livingston, Tiny Tales runs Thursdays from 11:00 AM to noon at the Livingston Library (1212 Main Street), with story time from 11:00 to 11:30 and a craft from 11:30 to noon, for ages 3 to 6 with a caregiver. Thursday, November 19 is on the regular weekly schedule, and it is free. The Merced County Library Programs page describes the program and its age range.

A Free Foothills Storytime in Mariposa

Mariposa County Library Storytime, Wednesday November 18

Up in Mariposa, the Mariposa County Library (4978 10th Street) runs a weekly storytime in the Kids Room on Wednesdays from 10:00 to 11:00 AM. Stories are geared for children entering kindergarten and younger, and all ages are welcome. Wednesday, November 18 is on the weekly schedule, and the program is free. The county's Children's Resources page describes the program; the county advises confirming with library staff before coming, since times can change with the season.

Free Kids and Teen Programs at Merced Main Library

Merced Main Library runs free drop-in programs for kids and teens on four days this week, with no registration mentioned on the official calendar. Teens get three options, and younger kids get a Monday afternoon building session.

Lego Time, Monday November 16

The Merced County Library calendar lists Lego Time in the Children's Department at Merced Main (2100 O Street) on Mondays from 2:00 to 4:00 PM, a free hands-on building program for kids. Monday, November 16 is on the weekly schedule.

Teens: Movie, Monday November 16

For ages 12 to 18, the free Teens Movie program runs Mondays from 4:00 to 5:00 PM in the Teens Department at Merced Main. Monday, November 16 is the date this week, and it is free. The official library calendar lists the session.

Teens: Makerspace, Wednesday November 18

Merced Main Library runs a free teen Makerspace for ages 12 to 18 on Wednesdays from 5:00 to 7:00 PM in the Teen Department, with 3D printing and hands-on projects among the activities. Wednesday, November 18 is the date this week, and the program is free. The official library calendar lists the session.

Teens: Nintendo Switch, Thursday November 19

The free Teens Nintendo Switch program runs Thursdays from 4:00 to 5:00 PM in the Teens Department at Merced Main, for ages 12 to 18. Thursday, November 19 is the date this week. The official library calendar lists the session.

After-School Recreation With the Boys & Girls Club

After-school program, weekdays November 16 to 20

The Boys & Girls Club of Merced County runs its after-school program weekdays from 2:00 to 6:00 PM at the McCombs Youth Center at 615 W 15th Street in Merced, with homework help, sports and recreation, arts and crafts, and character and leadership development for youth ages 5 to 17. Membership is open to all youth at about $20 per year, and the club serves the community on a first-come basis each school day.

Merced Turkey Trot, Saturday November 21

A family run with a Kids 1K at Lake Yosemite

The Merced Turkey Trot, hosted by the Merced Running Club, runs Saturday, November 21 at 10:00 AM at Lake Yosemite County Park (714 Lake Road). The lineup includes a Kids 1K for ages 10 and under, a 2-mile run/walk, and a 5-mile run, with proceeds benefiting the Toys for Tots Merced County Chapter. Registration is required, and the club's published rates from the 2025 event were $15 for the Kids 1K (includes a finisher medal) and $30 for ages 18 and under and $35 for adults 19 and over for the longer distances, with fees increasing on race day. The 2026 pricing is not yet posted on the club's site, so confirm the current rate when you register. For more about the lake itself, my Lake Yosemite Regional Park spotlight covers the day-use fees and the best times to visit this fall.

Museum and Zoo Outings for Kids

Two museums and the county zoo keep their regular schedules all week, giving families easy indoor and outdoor options as the weather cools.

Kids Discovery Station, Tuesday through Sunday

Kids Discovery Station, the hands-on children's museum at 350 W Yosemite Avenue in Merced, is open Tuesday through Sunday and closed Mondays, so it is open November 17 to 22 this week. Hours are 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM most days, with Wednesday running 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM and Saturday and Sunday running 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Admission is $7 per adult and per child over 1 year old, and children under 1 are free. The play-based exhibits are designed for kids up to about age 12.

Castle Air Museum, open daily in Atwater

Castle Air Museum at 5050 Santa Fe Drive in Atwater is open daily from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with last admission to the aircraft exhibit area sold at 3:15 PM. Admission is $25 for adults 18 to 64, $20 for seniors 65 and up, $20 for active and retired military and veterans, $15 for children 6 to 17, and free for children under 6 with a paid adult. More than 80 restored aircraft are on display across 35 acres, and my Castle Air Museum community spotlight covers the full story.

Two more free and low-cost options in Merced

The Merced County Courthouse Museum at 21st and N Streets is free to enter and open Wednesday through Sunday from 1:00 to 4:00 PM, so it is open November 18 to 22 this week, a calm museum afternoon with older kids and teens; confirm hours on the official site before you go. Applegate Park Zoo at 1045 W 25th Street is open Thursday through Sunday from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, so it is open November 19 to 22 this week, with admission of $4 for ages 3 to 13, $5 for ages 14 to 59, and free for children under 2.

Free Early-Literacy Programs for Babies and Toddlers at Atwater Library

Families with babies and toddlers have two free weekly options at the Atwater Library this week, both listed on the Merced County Library calendar.

Wiggle & Read, Thursday November 19

The Atwater Library runs Wiggle & Read on Thursdays at 10:30 AM, a movement-based storytime for babies and toddlers with songs, rhymes, and board books. Thursday, November 19 is the date this week, and the program is free.

Sensory Playgroup, Tuesday November 17

The Atwater Library also runs a free Sensory Playgroup on Tuesdays from 11:00 AM to noon, a play-based early-literacy session for young children and their caregivers. Tuesday, November 17 is the date this week, and it is free.

Why Local Activities Matter for Merced County Families

A week that includes free storytimes at four libraries, free kids and teen programs, after-school recreation, a family run at the lake, and two museums gives families across the county plenty of ways to get out. Families considering a move to Merced, Atwater, Livingston, Mariposa, Turlock, or McSwain often ask what there is to do with kids locally, and free public programs plus family outings are a big part of that picture. The activities themselves are open to everyone, and that is exactly how a community calendar should work.

Want more of the local calendar? My free weekend guide for November 21 to 22 rounds out the family plans with the Saturday farmers markets in Merced and Turlock, free admission at the Courthouse Museum, the Sunday Atwater Flea & Farmers Market, and the Old La Grange Museum in the foothills. Whether you are reading stories at the library, running the Kids 1K at the lake, or touring the aircraft at Castle, you are part of the local story that makes a community home. If you are considering selling your home in Merced County, schedule a free consultation with Monica Franks, The Seller's Agent, and learn more about Monica's approach on her about page.